Decision makers

Ban the Unprovoked Slaughter of Endangered Great White Sharks

Sharks must now swim for their lives, due to plans recently announced by Western Australia’s regional government.

Premier Colin Barnett has enacted a six million dollar policy to kill great white sharks that venture into coastal waters frequented by people. The policy, described as a preventative measure, reverses the current approach of killing Great White Sharks only if they have attacked people.

The Conservation Council of Western Austria describes the new approach to sharks as a “guilty until proven innocent” approach and a “knee-jerk reaction to public concern that will harm the environment without protecting swimmers.”

Despite its fearsome reputation, little is in fact known about the Great White. Yet as a so-called apex predator, the loss of the Great White Sharks could result in drastic and far reaching consequences for the global food chain. The shark is already listed as an endangered species by the International Union for Conservation of Nature.

And there is little concrete evidence that killing sharks makes people any safer.

Please sign this petition to help us overturn this knee-jerk policy.

This petition was delivered to:

Western Australia Premier, Colin BarnettThe Australian Government

Letter to

Western Australia Premier, Colin BarnettThe Australian Government

I just signed the following petition addressed to: The Western Australian Government's Premier, Colin Barnett, to stop the unprovoked killing of Great White Sharks, a species that is in great peril.

----------------Make illegal the unprovoked killing of Great Whites by the Australian government.

This is an international issue! Little is known about great white populations and many scientists suggest their species is currently vulnerable and possibly on the road to extinction. The Great White Shark is also listed as Vulnerable to Extintion on the IUCN Red List. As an apex predator, the loss of such an important part of the ecosystem could result in drastic and far reaching consequences on a global scale.

Sanctioning the slaughter of these animals is not only absurd, it is also very dangerous, as the environmental consequences of the dwindling number of great whites are serious and have global consequences.----------------